5 Fascinating Nuggets of Truth You Should Know About Doritos

Growing up as an American teenager meant Doritos in your diet. The flavored and fried tortilla chips went with everything: video games, sandlot baseball, road trips and going to the beach. (Fruit wasn’t invented for another decade or so.)

Here we are, 50 years later, and we’ve seen dozens of incarnations of the tasty triangle, with the original still just as popular as ever. As a matter of fact, it’s the second-biggest selling chip behind just plain old Lay’s Potato Chips.

But just exactly what do we know about said salted snack treat? Did you know that the triangular shape is loosely based on the shape of Mexico? Or that the literal translation of Doritos means “three corners of flavor-town”? OK, while those two facts are basically just lies, here are five things that are absolutely true:

Doritos Debuted in Disneyland

Doritos was first produced at the Casa de Fritos at Disneyland in California. They quartered unused tortillas, then deep friend and seasoned them with awesomeness. Eventually, they were mass produced in 1964 by Alex Foods before Frito-Lay took over production and released the chip nationwide in 1966. Just in time for the merger of the AFL and the NFL! Huzzah!

While the chip has stayed relatively the same over the years, it has undergone a couple transformations that many might not even realize. In 1994, the company made the chips 20-percent larger and 15-percent thinner. They also rounded the corners, probably so babies could play with them in their cribs and not risk severing an artery.

Doritos Flavors By the Dozens

There are currently twenty different types of Doritos, according to their website, although some of those are just reduced fat versions of another flavor.

However, over the history of the Doritos brand, there are reportedly over 100 different flavors! Some of them were obviously big hits, like when Cool Ranch hit the markets in 1986, helping that decade become one of the all-time greatest decades ever!

I’d also like to take this time to scold the Frito Lay company for discontinuing their Fiery Habanero flavored Doritos. These were very spicy, incredibly tasty, and – when dipped in sour cream – one of the greatest inventions since Double-Stuf Oreos. Please join us in the fight to bring them back.

Idiots Like Doritos

In 2003, a dope named Charles Grady sued the Frito-Lay company because he said his throat was damaged from eating Doritos. Apparently, the corners were juuust a little too corner-y for his delicate gullet. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the scientific study a former chemistry professor published did not meet scientific standards, so it was not allowed to be used in evidence. The study calculated the safest way to swallow these chips.

In related news, Pennsylvanians are now called, “Sissy Throats” whenever they travel to neighboring states. It’s shameful, I tell you.

35 Ingredients Create One Zesty Chip

While it’s true, there are 35 different ingredients in your standard Nacho Cheese Doritos, you have to understand – it’s not like they could just slice off chips from a nacho, like potato chips. Rather than list all of the ingredients, I’ll just let you know that there is indeed corn, cheese and salt in them.

Something tells me, however, that back in 1964, there were just six or so ingredients. That’s no fun.

Taco Bell Sold 100 Million Doritos Locos Tacos in Record Time

In 2012, Taco Bell introduced the Doritos Locos Tacos, which are essentially the restaurant’s regular tacos, but made out of a Nacho Cheese Doritos shell. At first, people rolled their eyes at the over-indulgence of the American fast food chain. But after trying one, people suddenly realized this combination was as natural as rye bread and a pastrami sandwich. (After all, a taco is really nothing more than a Mexican Reuben. Look it up.)

There were over 100 million Doritos Locos Tacos sold in the first 10 weeks after it was introduced, making it the single most popular product in the franchise’s history. To put it in proper perspective, McDonald’s sold their 100 millionth burger 18 years after its inception. Even more popular than the Chilito? Unreal. Then again, naming a chili-cheese burrito after a Mexican term for “small penis” probably doomed that product right out of the gate.

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